In the real world, you can’t hold an office in a coffee shop or a public park. You must have a physical location where you can store files, receive communication, and transact with customers. On the Internet, you have a virtual location – the website.

The website is where you store all the data you’ve gathered, organize them into files or repurpose them to create content that drives more inbound traffic and generates leads that you can convert to sales.

And a website can do more for your business than just organize data, create content, generate leads, and increase sales. The website can build your brand, enhance your online presence, foster strong customer relations, and more.

10 Benefits Of Having A Well-Designed Website For Your Small Business

The Internet made it possible to have the world in your hands but the advances in digital technology are the reason why you have information at your fingertips – literally.

Information reveals opportunities. A website is a platform that will allow you to optimize information so you can capitalize on these opportunities on the Internet.

In this article, we will discuss the 10 benefits of having a website for your business. Before we move to our list of benefits, here are 5 key statistics that make it easier for all small business owners and entrepreneurs to decide on investing in a website.

  • 4.95 Billion – The number of people searching for information on the Internet every day;
  • 65.6% – The percentage of people in the world with Internet access;
  • 6 hours and 56 minutes – The average amount of time a person spends on the Internet;
  • 1.8 Billion – The number of active websites on the Internet;
  • US$8.1 Trillion – The projected revenues for eCommerce in 2026.

If these numbers have you nodding in agreement, let’s get into the details and find out the 10 ways a website will benefit your business.

1. Attracting New Customers

When an Internet user needs to find information, he launches a search query. Within seconds, the search engine will present a list of URLs that have the information the searcher is looking for.

Let’s assume you have the products and services the searcher might need. Without a website, how can your business be found?

“But I have a Facebook page for my business.”

Google ranks URLs based on an algorithm that prioritizes User Experience (UX) and the search engine measures UX with your site analytics. Facebook is Mark Zuckerberg’s website.

But with nearly 2 billion websites on the Internet, how can your website get noticed by your target market?

  1. Implement Search Engine Optimization (SEO) techniques and tactics to make your website visible to the crawl bots of the search engines.
  2. Make sure your website is mobile responsive and can be set up properly to fit the screen of various mobile devices.
  3. Assure users of having fast-loading web pages. Users will abandon the search if your web page takes longer than 3 seconds to load.
  4. Websites with blogs have pages that are indexed 434% more than websites that don’t. Blog frequently – 4 blogs per month is a good start. The blogs must be optimized for search, well-written, properly researched, and referenced.
  5. Share your blogs on your social media pages and try to arrange for guest blogging assignments with relevant websites. Always include a link back to your website.
  6. Showcase glowing reviews and positive testimonials about your business, products, and services on your website.
  7. Use high-quality images of your products and write comprehensive product descriptions.
  8. Keep your website’s security features updated. Users will abandon the search if your website doesn’t have Secure Socket Layer (SSL) certificates, an encryption program that protects data.

Customers won’t take your business seriously if you don’t have a website. They’ll perceive your business as clueless about technology with an uncaring attitude toward fulfilling your customer’s needs.

Remember, a website is an investment that can pay handsome dividends if designed correctly. Reduce the risk of making costly mistakes and have it built only by an agency that offers professional website design services.

2. Increasing Sales and Revenue

While casually walking past a department store, something catches your eye. You walk in and browse through the merchandise. Within a few minutes, a salesperson will approach you and ask if you need assistance.

A similar cascade of events will happen if you have an optimized website.

An Internet user comes across your URL on the SERP and becomes interested because of your description tag. He clicks on your URL and lands on your home page.

The Call-to-Action (CTA) convinces him to go to the Products page where the amazing-looking images make his eyes go wide. Impressed and excited, he clicks on a button that takes him to your ePortal where a sale can potentially take place.

Having a website is a good decision but it won’t guarantee immediate results overnight. Now that you have an optimized website, you need good online marketing and sales strategies to keep your checkout counter busy.

  1. Create a Buyer’s Profile by reviewing customer data from your website analytics.
  2. Using the Buyer’s Profile as a reference, create customized content that’s optimized with the right keywords to attract the attention of your target customers.
  3. In addition to frequent blogging, register your website with an online search directory such as GoogleMyBusiness to give your local search marketing efforts a big boost.
  4. Embed an explainer video about your products and services on your home page. According to a study by Hubspot, 94% of visitors understood the value of a product better after watching an explainer video. 84% of views influenced the buying decision of the consumer.
  5. Include a live chat feature on your website. Similar to the salesperson in a department store, the live chat agent can guide the site user through the sales process of your website.

A website can become a revenue-generating machine. While looks do matter, what’s more important is that your website functions properly and keeps your users happy and satisfied.

To be sure that your website is visually appealing and performing at a high level, have it made by a reputable web design services company.

3. Establishing and Maintaining a Professional Image

Having a business website says these things about you:

  1. You believe in and embrace the power of digital technology.
  2. You care about your customers.
  3. You’re invested in your business.

Here’s an example of how having a website helps build a professional image.

Email is the number one means of communicating online. Sure it’s fine to have an email address that reads [email protected] but it’s more impressive to have one that reads [email protected].

An email address that’s personalized for your company will give you an advantage over competitors who still use Yahoo Mail or Gmail. It makes your business unique because anyone can sign up for a Yahoo Mail or Gmail account.

In addition to having a customized email address, there are other ways a website can create a cohesive and consistent brand presence online. Likewise, these strategies must support a professional and trustworthy impression of your business to your customers.

  1. Use original images that are proprietary to your business instead of stock photos.
  2. Make sure your web pages are highly-navigable and easy to use.
  3. Remove broken links from your web pages.
  4. Frequently update content on your web pages.
  5. Invite your customers to write reviews about your products and services.
  6. Promptly respond to all comments and reviews about your products and services – and yes, even the negative ones.
  7. Maintain a professional and respectful attitude when responding to negative comments and reviews.
  8. Do your best to resolve issues and complaints about your products within 24 to 72 hours.
  9. Secure testimonials from your customers.
  10. Share user-generated content – but ask permission first.

Always keep in mind that not everyone will like your products. When someone gives you unfavorable feedback, view it as an opportunity to establish a relationship.

Address the issue right away and show the customer that you care about his satisfaction and happiness. If successfully resolved, the disgruntled customer might become a loyal customer for years.

4. Improved Visibility and Search Engine Ranking

Having a website for your small business is a great decision but unless it’s optimized for search engines, you might as well not have one at all. Without SEO, your website has no chance of being included in the SERP.

Why is it important to be included in the SERP – specifically, the first page of the SERP? Ask yourself, how often do you go to the second page of the SERP – if at all?

The first five URLs on the first page of the SERP account for 67.6% of all click-throughs and of this, 28.5% goes to the URL in the first position. Thus, the higher you are on the first page of the SERP, the more visits your website gets.

How can you optimize your website for search engines?

  1. Conduct keyword research and embed your content, images, and descriptions with the right keywords.
  2. Link the key data provided by your content to reputable websites.
  3. Consistently create high-quality content that’s relevant, useful, informative, and optimized for search engines.
  4. Perform a technical audit on your website and institute improvements that enhance UX such as removing broken links, improving site speed, and updating content.
  5. Use internal links that link back to another page on your website.
  6. As previously discussed, get SSL certificates to encrypt data. If your website doesn’t have SSL certificates, Google will mark the URL “Not Secure” and penalize you in the search rankings.

Learning SEO is like learning Martial Arts. There are different ways to kick and punch and it takes years of practice to learn how to apply its various techniques so you can win fights.

Your best option is to outsource SEO to an experienced, reliable, and proven SEO services provider. By outsourcing SEO, you can allocate your time and energy to the day-to-day affairs of running your business.

5. Increased Credibility and Professionalism

There are websites that look like they could be on display at The Louvre Museum in Paris, France. They are stunningly beautiful and are like works of art.

But do they work?

If you’ve committed to investing in a website, take the necessary steps to give your users one that looks professional and easy to use.

  1. What’s your website all about? This is answered by your Brand Value Proposition (BVP). Your BVP must be catchy but concise enough that it tells the user he clicked on the right URL.
  2. Keep your design simple. A home page that’s jam-packed with colors, shapes, and other graphics may look sophisticated but all of those design elements might only distract the user. We recommend incorporating a lot of white space to organize the sections of each web page.
  3. Write in simple and conversational language. Avoid using technical jargon and keep the sentences and paragraphs short. Run your content through a spelling and grammar checker before publishing them.
  4. Make sure the menu can be found right away and that the buttons are working properly.
  5. The contact forms must be visible, have complete information, and be easy to fill out.

It’s great if your website looks beautiful but aesthetic appeal should never come at the expense of overall functionality and performance. Users are on your website to admire its design. They’re there to use it.

6. Retain More Customers

Did you know that retaining customers costs less and generates better revenue than acquiring new customers? Studies have shown that it costs five times more to acquire a new customer than to retain an existing one.

Your website can be an effective tool for retaining more customers.

  1. Use the website as your 24/7 customer service platform. Install a chat plugin or link it to your Messenger account.
  2. Respond to inquiries and concerns that were delivered via contact forms, chat, or email within 24 hours if possible.
  3. Keep your customer in the loop by providing constant updates about the issue or concern that he relayed to you.
  4. Make your customers and newsletter subscribers feel special by prioritizing them whenever you have special discounts, limited-time-only offers, and new product launches. Give them special gifts or discount offers during certain anniversaries.
  5. Always personalize your responses or communication with customers. Address your customers by their names and not “Ma’am” or “Sir”.
  6. Don’t just post business stories on your website. Mix it up and post about non-business-related activities. For example, write about a recent company outing or share your hobbies and interests. Be relatable to your customers.

When someone buys your product that means he chose your business over your competitors. There are reasons why he made this choice and now, it’s your job to make sure he remains loyal to your business.

7. Reduce Costs of Running a Business

Sales don’t move in a straight line. There will be periods where sales are sluggish and you’ll have to implement cost-cutting measures. Unfortunately, some costs such as rent are fixed and some lessors won’t accommodate requests for a rent moratorium due to economic losses.

With a website, the recurring costs of your business are as follows:

  • Internet subscription
  • Power
  • App subscriptions

Of course, if you employ a team of remote workers, you’ll have to pay salaries and benefits.

Your fixed cost other than the subscriptions is the annual renewal fee for your web host service provider.

How else can a website reduce the cost of running a business?

  1. Cut down on paper expenses and office supplies.
  2. Use apps such as Viber, Messenger, Skype, and Slack to communicate with your team, suppliers, and clients instead of your mobile phone or landline.
  3. Designate some of your employees for remote work and reduce the size of your office space and Internet bandwidth.

In the 10th benefit, we’ll discuss how you can use the website to build your business. Our tips will help you cut down on business costs while earning more money.

Keep reading!

8. Protect Your Business From Uncertainty

When the pandemic hit in 2020 and global economies were forced to shut down, several businesses had no choice but to close operations.

Except for the businesses that had websites! These businesses were able to continue earning money through eCommerce.

If there was a silver lining to the pandemic, it was that a website can protect your business from uncertainty and the great unknown.

  1. Keep your website functioning properly. Have it undergo frequent checks and maintenance procedures. Update the plugins whenever new versions are available.
  2. The website should always be in a state of evolution. Find ways to improve the performance of your website. Specifically, it’s the degree of mobile responsiveness, site speed, and navigability.
  3. If you have a built-in eCommerce portal, try to offer other payment options.

It’s not just another pandemic that you have to worry about. Natural disasters and political and social unrest are events that could paralyze businesses.

9. Create a New Stream of Revenue

The building where you hold the office and the mall where you have a brick-and-mortar store will eventually close for the day.

Not your website!

If your website has an eCommerce portal, it continues to ring up the cash register – or rather, the checkout counter, while you sleep.

And if you don’t have an eCommerce portal, your website can receive inquiries from prospective customers and industrial clients.

How can you turn your website into a money-making machine?

  1. Be as detailed as possible when writing product descriptions. Leave no stone unturned! Put yourself in the lens of the buyer. When he reads your descriptions, all questions should be answered.
  2. Offer products and services that aren’t available in your physical location. For example, if your company does landscaping, offer a free quote or free 30-minute consultation.
  3. Adopt a flexible digital marketing strategy. Consumers’ tastes and preferences are easily influenced by information available on the Internet. You have to stay on top of the latest trends and developments and implement courses of action that allow your digital marketing strategy to adapt to these changes.
  4. Stay active on social media – but don’t just post sales content. If you keep posting sales content, your pitches to the market will seem like noise.
  5. Consider getting into cross-promotional arrangements with complementary and non-competing brands. For example, if you sell baked goods online, partner up with an online business that sells coffee products.

Of course, it bears mentioning again as we’ve had throughout this guide, but always make sure your content is optimized for search engines. No optimization, no sales!

10. Grow Your Business

It used to be the thought that to expand your business, you had to open other locations or increase capacity by hiring more people, looking for bigger spaces for rent, and investing in more capital assets.

Yes, those business development strategies remain relevant today. But having a website for your small business can make it grow faster without breaking the bank.

Take a look at this short list of functions that you can transfer to your website:

  1. Human Resources – Have job applicants upload their CVs on your website for immediate transfer to your HR department. Integrate HR software that allows job applicants to answer pre-employment exams for vetting candidates.
  2. Operations – Set up an employee-only page where select personnel can upload work, retrieve projects, and communicate with other team members.
  3. Business Administration – Set up a CRM where you can upload and update customer information and the status of each account.
  4. Communication – Provide your contact details such as office address, email address, landline, mobile phone numbers, and a location map. Include a contact form that allows users to email you directly.
  5. Customer Support – Include a chat plugin and easy-to-fill-out contact forms.
  6. Sales – Set up an eCommerce portal on your website. Include links to other eCommerce sites where your products are being sold.
  7. Marketing – Announce all promos, discounts, and new product launches. Install social media sharing buttons. Blog frequently and share on your social media pages.
  8. Brand Building – Share the latest updates and developments about your business. Did you just open a new store? Did your brand win an award? Share this welcome news with your followers.

A word of caution – don’t transfer all of these functions simultaneously. Build up slowly. It takes time to adjust to a new business model.

For example, you want to set up a team of telecommuters or remote workers. Evaluate your current workforce and carefully assess who among your employers is ready and capable of working remotely.

They should have a dedicated PC or laptop and a stable Internet connection. Likewise, a good track record that shows consistent performance is a must. You should also consider their situation at home. The less stressful, the more ideal.

Then, designate a small percentage of your workforce – around 5% – for remote work. Make sure the workflows are in place, discussed, and properly understood by everyone.

Track the performance of the remote team. If the performance meets your targets, then you can proceed to allocate more people for remote assignments.

Conclusion

Now that you’ve read the 10 benefits of having a website for your small business, what are you waiting for? It’s never too late to put a website up even if your business has been operating for more than 10 years.

It’s not about catching up because there will always be opportunities available on the Internet. Investing in a website is insurance for your business.

As long your website is optimized for search, consistently performs at a high level, and looks beautiful, your business will have a greater chance of achieving long-term profits and sustainable success.